PPC1 2010

JBG2011 · 30-03-2011 02:02PM

091october wrote: »

Gosh, based on earlier responses, the PPC1 exams do appear quite tough- any tips/ hints for a prospective PP1- er?

The main reason people fail PPC1 is because they don't take it sufficiently seriously and think they can get away with study methods and habits picked up during their degree. You can't sail through PPC1 by skipping lectures and tutorials, going on the beer and then cramming for a few weeks before the exams like most people did in college. PPC1 is not like an undergraduate course: its all about practical skills rather than hard academic learning and thus requires you to actively participate from day one. If you think its 8 months or so on the doss, you'll probably fail.

Make it your business to not miss lectures and attend tutorials religiously: even if you're half dead make sure you get to the tutorial and take part in it. Many students don't bother preparing for tutorials and try to hide during the class. The stuff covered in tutorials usually come up in some shape or form in the exams. Prepare for each and every tutorial and actively participate in it. Even though many of the lectures can be very boring you will pick up a lot through osmosis and also many of the lectures focus on the course manuals, which you can bring with you to the exam.

You don't need to memorise much in Blackhall as the exams are open book. You do however need to understand the subject matter. In this respect Blackhall is the opposite of college!

Make sure you get on the ball with Conveyancing from day one. Most students have a mental block about it and lose focus early, particularly in September and October when there is a lot of partying going on. Conveyancing can be hard to pick up if you dont learn the basics, but really its not nearly as hard as some people make out, so long as you don't zone out for a couple of weeks at the start of the course.

The hours are still a lot less then a normal person's working week so there is still more than enough time to engage in the very active social scene, its just that many people go too far and treat it like a bit of a holiday, and get wiped out in the exams as a result.

tombren · 30-03-2011 02:04PM

091october wrote: »

Gosh, based on earlier responses, the PPC1 exams do appear quite tough- any tips/ hints for a prospective PP1- er?

they are tough enough and are different in style to the fe1s. You have to get your head around writing answers that give practical advice rather than legal theory.

having said that if you got through the fe1s without much heart-ache and you put in a decent amount of study there's nothing to fear. I started proper study after Christmas and got through them ok.

Attending all/most of your tutorials and doing your tutorial homework is a good place to start. Also on my course, close(ish) to exam time, a lot of tutorial groups undertook to allocate each person in the group specific tutorial questions in each subject to be thoroughly answered and typed up. so when you went into the exam you have a complete set of tutorial answers - very handy as that's what the exams are mainly based on. In subjects like probate the exam questions are pretty much exact copies of tutorial work.

They're not like the fe1s where you have to know stuff by heart but you have to be very familiar with the topics and know exactly where to find them in the manuals. Tabbing & highlighting is vital. The exam duration is shorter than the fe1s so you have absolutely no time to be searching through the manual hoping to stumble upon answers, you have to know exactly where they are!

091october · 31-03-2011 12:09PM

thanks for you responses- guess i have my work cut out for me !!:-)

gormo82 · 07-04-2011 06:24AM

Guys, re PPC1 exams, they are very tricky. Do not let anyone fool you into thinking otherwise! I had never sat open book exams before and found them extremely stressful!

Time is tight, you need to spot the issues and know essentially what the answer is before you go looking for the finer details in the book! It remains to be seen just how easily they are marked, results in August...

crystalmice · 08-04-2011 11:21AM

If you fail PPC1 how quickly can you repeat the exams? Obviously it would mess up your training if you had to wait a full year??
On a completely frivolous note, I'm curious as to how people dress in Blackhall? Just normal casual clothes or do people keep it business casual?

blueythebear · 08-04-2011 11:30AM

crystalmice wrote: »

If you fail PPC1 how quickly can you repeat the exams? Obviously it would mess up your training if you had to wait a full year??
On a completely frivolous note, I'm curious as to how people dress in Blackhall? Just normal casual clothes or do people keep it business casual?

You'll be given several opportunities to repeat the exams before PPCII but despite what was said above, there should be no reason why you should fail PPC I exams on the first time around. Even if you mess up a question or two and have to repeat, you should really get it on the repeat which happens quite soon after the results are out.

They are not that tough and are nowhere near as difficult as FE-1s. The main thing on them is timing because you have all the information in front of you, you have to be very careful so as to pick the most appropriate info and get it down on the page.

As for what to wear at PPCI, it's college. Wear whatever you would wear in college.

Captainsatnav · 03-06-2011 05:18PM

Hello...long time reader, first time posterand all that.
So looks like I might be offered an apprenticeship. Going in on Tuesday next for a month just to get a feel for eavh other etc, hopefully get on well and get my indentures signed. Prob head away for a few weeks then before Sept...should I start looking into grants now? Ppc fees and wages won't be paid ( wages while in office will be) out of college since 2007.
Some people here know how the grants work...would appreciate your advice.
Cheers

oootini · 16-06-2011 08:16PM

defo, check out Higher Education Grants section of Dublin City Council. The sooner you apply, the sooner you can get your fees covered, if you are eligible. The student grants are reduced considerably this year though...

So, does anyone know what time of year the results of the PPC1 exams are out? is it August? and when are repeats usually held? would appreciate any info.

Becky55 · 13-07-2011 06:49PM

Hey Guys, I just wanted to ask people who did PPC1 last year where would be the best locations to stay while up in Blackhall Place, I havent a clue really about Dublin and just starting my search now, could anyone recommend good locations to stay with decent access to Blackhall place, ie Luas and bus, alot of people have said not to stay near the college ie - smithfiend and stoneybatter as they arent the safest, but id appreciate any help. Also regarding fees do we have to pay the whole €8500 before we start PPC1 or can we split it and pay half before we start and half after x mas (the thoughts of these fees are giving me nightmares), I got my indentures signed ages ago and havent heard anything back from the Law society. But any help/info would be appreciated, thanks

oootini · 13-07-2011 10:53PM

Stoneybatter is one of the nicest areas in Dublin. Its got a real village feel to it and nice friendly ordinary people. lots of little rows of red brick houses on Citric Road and Arbour Hill and up that way. Its not got the rich kid feeling of Dublin 4 or Ranelagh but its safe as anything and rents would be more reasonable. Anywhere along the Luas line is grand though so you could even live in the IFSC and it wouldn't take long to get to Blackhall in the morning.

Unfortunately, the Law Soc ask for all the money at the same time.. don't know if its up for negotiation with them. So you just have to arrange with the bank to get the money out or whatever. so much money!

PPC1 2010

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